Tenants of the Chester-le-Street–based housing association are delighted with the improvements that have been made which help to ensure homes meet the government’s Decent Homes standard.  

 

The Sekura Group, who was the contractor appointed to deliver the two-year windows and doors improvement programme, has completed the works five months ahead of schedule.

 

Mr Raymond Smith, 87, of Ridley Avenue in Chester-le-Street is one of the 3,000 tenants to receive new windows and doors to his home. Since the council transferred its stock to Cestria Community Housing, Mr Smith said he has noticed a big difference to his three-bedroom house since improvements have been made. 

 

Mr Smith commented; “I always used to feel a draught before and I couldn’t imagine what that would have been like in this weather. The new windows and doors have made my home feel a lot warmer and comfortable and I praise the quality of work that has been undertaken.” 

 

Malcolm Thompson, Technical Services Manager at Cestria Community Housing said: “We have been very impressed with The Sekura Group and the quality of work that they have undertaken. We have been monitoring the progress of the programme against the satisfaction of the service delivered to our tenants.”

 

He added; “Not only has Sekura successfully delivered the two-year programme five months ahead of schedule, but the feedback we have had about the quality of work from tenants is excellent.   Our tenants reported that they were delighted to have had new windows and doors installed in time for Christmas especially in time for all this bad weather we have been experiencing.” 

 

The association continually monitors the performance of all of its contractors against four key categories – customer satisfaction, works completed, duration targets and employment opportunities. The performance of Sekura to the end of March 2009 was such that they become the first of the Associations contractors to be awarded ‘Contractor of the Year’.

 

Peter Askew, Senior Contracts Manager at Sekura said: “Its was an extremely demanding schedule but thanks to the flexibility of the tenants, Cestria staff and our own workforce we have delivered the programme in record breaking time.”

 

Over the last eighteen months, Cestria Community Housing has continued to deliver its promises to improve the quality of tenants’ homes. 

 

In addition to the windows and doors programme, the association has also been installing new kitchens and bathrooms, new heating systems, erecting fencing and boundary walls, fitting new eaves, gutters and fascias and carrying out an external painting programme.